Fog nozzle



April 11, 1950 T. J. Gon-IARD 2,503,723

FOG NozzLE Filed Aug. 17, 1944 mvg-N rag.-

omq J- GoTHA-R-D,

Patented Apr. 1l, Vv1950 4 Thomas J. Gothard, Los` Angeles, Calif.,assigner to Richard Wunn,y 'Long Beach, Calif..

y Application August 17, 1944, Serial No. 549,871

' s claims. (c1. '29e-"67) vThis invention relates to devices used for4vaporizing liquids. for spraying and fire-fighting purposes.`

One. of the objects of this invention is to provide a device with arotor for breaking up the liquid and mounted so that the fog-nozzledevelops a tendency of cleaning itself by the action of the rotor andthe particular mounting of the rotor in the nozzle.

`Another object is to provide the rotor with u turbine-like impellingmeans.

Another object is to design the impelling means of an open form, todistinguish from holes, perforations, or apertures.

Anotherv object is to provide particularly designed edges between therotor and nozzle at points of discharge from the nozzle.

Another object is to provide such edges in cooperating pairs formingimpingement discharges.

Another object is to provide discharge disturbing means opposite to thedischarging end of the impelling means of the rotor.

Other objects will appear from the following description and appendedclaims as well as from the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1. is alongitudinal midsectional view of a device inaccordance with thisinvention in form of a fire-fighting nozzle.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 through the front end of the innersupporting tubing of the nozzle. f

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section on line 3.3 of: Fig. 1 through theperforated disc.

, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the rotor, showing the openturbine-impelling means and recesses for cutting down on the weightofthe rotor.j n

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View over the front edge of the housing ofthe nozzle, being of the disturbing means for the discharge.

Fig. 6 is a slight modification of the form of disturbing means.

Fig. '7 is an edge view of the rotor. f

Fig.` 8v is a longitudinal midsectional view of an insert in the frontend of the nozzle for an open stream discharge.

Fig. 9 is a schematic sketch for discharge by edge-modification.

Fig. 10 is another schematic sketch for a slightly modified form ofedge-discharge.

.Fig. 11 is a schematic detail for connecting the central front conewith a control Within the adapter-connection.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary cross section on line I'2-l2 of Figure 13through a turbine impelling means of a slightly modified form in shapeof a shallow half-round channel instead of the deep cut in the endsurface of the rotor. Y

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified formof turbinewheel.` w1, f

, 2 The inner supporting tubing 9 is provided with a threaded portion I0 at one end, opposite tothe discharging end II. The outer edge of thedischarging end isbeveled at I2, and towards the center is a dischargingbore I3, with a beveled` A central cone I5 is designed and made4 tocooperate With-the beveled edge I4 to form a narrow annular space fordischarging in the direction of the arrow I6.

A cap Il is provided with a beveled edge I8 to co-operate with thebeveled edge I2 for a discharge in the direction ofthe arrow I9.

'I'he discharges in' the directions ofthe arrows I6 and I9 form animpingement for the resulting cylindrical discharge in -the direction ofthe arrows 20.

It is merely a matter of makingthis discharge of a finer or coarser typein order to obtain extremely fine fog, or a coarser spray-like fog.

One, or more, rotors are mounted on the outside of the -inner supportingtubing 9. In the case, asillustrated, an intermediate partition 2| isprovided as an integral part of the central tubinggto whichcounter-pieces areaddedin form of caps 22 and 23, between which the tworotors 2l! and 24a are disposed. i I

VVThe tubing 9 is provided with passages 36 of ample size so as to avoidclogging of these pas` sages as much as possible, and there is amplespacing |24 between the inner face of the central part of the rotor andthe tubing, for free and equal distribution of matter passing from thepassages 36 outwardly around .the central -part of the rotor, as will bedescribed more fully hereafter. i f

The spacing |25, on the other hand, is not necessarily as large as at|24; neither is the spacing at |26, which isv over the outer peripheryof some parts of the rotor. These spacings |25 and |26 may actually berather narrow, to allow almost a guiding contact between rotor andstationary parts of the nozzle, though these spacings are wide` enoughto assure floatingactionof the rotor in operation as soon as the rotorcentralizes itself; the unproportionally wide showing of the spacings[25 and |26 being here only adopted for sake of clearer illustration ofactual spacings existing. .v l

There are, thus, certain raised portions 25 on the tubing 9 awayfrom thepassages 36 and away from the wider spacing I24, which is actually widerfor purpose of distributing of passing matter. l n n As a matter offact, one of the lprinciples of this invention involves that thereshould-not =be any actual bearings in this device, all the pas sages,and spaces, and channe1s,and impelling means having been designedto,faci1itate :'loaty ing actiongof the rotcrs.

3 The portions 26 of the caps 22 and 23, as well as of the intermediatepartition 2|, overlap theoutlet ends of the impelling channels 21 of therotors in such a manner that the discharge from the rotors is splashedagainst these portions,

whereby the discharge is broken up considerably.

Moreover, these portions are roughened, or provided with extra pockets31, see Fig. 5, which may be modified variously, as for instance at 31ain Fig. 6.

In Figs. 1, 4, and 7, the impelling channels 21, are illustrated in formof rather deep and narrow cuts; but it should be understood that theseimpelling means may easily be modied to comply with scientificprinciples used for turbines, such asl thev shallow channels 21a inFigs. 12 and 13. Such channels can easily be produced; particularly,consideringk that such rotors may easily be madeby the method vofdie-casting, since su-ch channels would be inthe surfaces of the rotors.

As illustrated, the rotors are rather wide, with hub-like portions,which may involve undue weights, which, in turn, may necessitate thepockets 28r for weight reduction.

The caps and intermediate partition, together withrthe central tubing,form the housing for the rotors.

In order to provide impinging, or impingement-discharges from thiscombination-housing and rotors, the edges 29 and 30, on theorie side,and the rotor-edges 3l and 32, on the opposite side, are suitably andco-operatively shaped to produce impingement-discharges in thedirections of the arrowsv 33 and 34, with resultant discharges in thedirection of the arrows 35.

From ther illustration-in Fig. 1 it will`1be clear that the resultantirnpingement-discharge can be varied to quite an extent by the merevariation of .the angles at the edges. Moreover, suchimpingement-discharge can easily be provided in a plane at'right anglesto the central axis of the whole fog-nozzle, so as to create a wall-likefog back of the iorwardlydischarging central fog or spray behind whichan operator can iind protection whiie approaching an intense fire. Thishas been demonstrated with actual fires.

Fig. l9 illustrates thus schematically the last mentioned edge-forming;while Fig. 10 illus trates a schematical arrangement lfor morea-cuteangles than thosein Fig. 1, one edge being undercut to create suchincreased angles.

In Fig. 1, the central cone I -is mounted on an apertured disc 38, inwhich the apertures, or holes 39.are preferably arranged in a slantingdirection as illustrated in Fig. 3, to create a whirling of the liquidin one direction before discharging in the direction 16'; while the'apertures 40 in the front end ofthe central tubing 9 are preferablyprovided vto create -a whirling in the `opposite direction beforedischarging in the vdirection of the arrow 19'; this combination beingintended to intensi-ty the impinging action in the resultant dischargeinthe arrow 2i).

All these hereinbefore described arrangements are distinctlyfor fog-likedischarges, which have been found more effective than any heavy stream.

In ycases where iiremen, however, desire a heavy central stream, thiscan easily be provided by merely substituting the sleeve illustrated inFig. 8. The end 43 abuts against the shoulder 4l in the rend of thetubing 9; the sleeve 42 being provided with the threaded portion 44a tofit in place of lthe disc 38; lthe cone l5 'being herewith repl'ace'insuch a case.

However, some lopenators may desire, or even 4 require, to have thecentral cone I5 or other parts arranged adjustably while in operativeposition within the nozzle.

For such cases and purposes, lever-controls may be embodiedin thethread-adapter-piece 45.

, Such adapters are often necessitated by the fact that such appliances,as nozzles, must be used on apparatus-parts with diiierent threads. Insuch adapters, it is not difcult to provide a small shaft 46 with ahandle of some sort 41 embodying a cam 48, which actuates a member 49,to transmitmotions through a connecting-rod 50 to the cone l5 in themanner indicated in Fig. 11.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the liquid can be passedto the opposite sides of the rotors from the passages36 lby wayrof thelarge distributing-spacing |24, to act" with equal pressures on oppositesides of the rotors, so as to result in a floatingsuspension of therotors within the housing and within the passing liquid.

Such floating suspension and` operation tends to eliminate any materialfriction or wear-01T, to assure the utmost employmentof an existingforce in the liquid on the rotors.v This full utilization of forceproduces the best speed in the rotors, thereby facilitating aself-cleaningrandan evenly distributed impingement'all around.

Though the edges ofthe rotors and housing have been illustrated spacedconsiderably, as 4at the points ofdischarge indicated at 33` and 34,

particularly, between the disc-like terminations,-

it should be understood thatl this was done only in-order to avoid anyblurring of lines in the appearance of the drawing. However, suchspacings can be quite small when desired.

Moreover, these disc-like terminations of the rotors can be quite thin,particularly, where automatic shut-oil is desired rat' the very edges,to avoid dripping after power-sl'nu;oii`.` In fact, they are desired toact in form of diaphragme, to automatically close against the oppositeedges .of the-housing as soon as the liquid is shutoff, which is ofgreat importance in fire-lighting, such as withgasoline or gas, sincedrippings may start a newfire, or `even an explosion. Such diaphragms,on the other hand, easily open more and more when more pressure isturned-on, or applied without requiring adjusting ymeans for thespacings.

In fact, the rotors may loe-made .ofseveral sheetdiscs, placed 'back toback, or face to face, etc., with certain of discs sim-ply formed indies with channels, such as indicated in Figs. 12 and'13'; Plainspacer-discs may then be inter-posed where Fig. 7 indicates portions ofsmaller diameter as integral parts ofthe rotor between the edge-pieces3l and 32 and von opposite sides thereof neXt to the outer channeledportions ,of rotor 24 of Fig. 7.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a .fog-nozzle, :a housinghaving inlet passages and havingoutlet-passages with paired edges converging towards and being'annularly spaced from one another, and a rotor mounted about said inletpassages and provided with edges corresponding to and extending betweensaid first-named edges s o pas to form an lm pinygement for any lmatterdis-charging Afrom said inlet-passages around opposite sides and `overthe periph'- ery `of the rotor, the rotor having channeledimpelling-mean-s in the opposite sides -for actuating the rotory a-ndfor-ming communicating means between saicl inlet :and loutlet passageswith equal distribution over the opposite sides -for floating action ofthe rotor.

y'2. In a 'tog-nozzle, a housing `lhaving inlet :passages and havingoutlet-passages with paired edges converging towards and :beingannularly spa'ced from one another, and 1a rotor provided withturbine-like effective channels in the opposite sides with intake-endsdisposed to receive matter from said inlet-passages and includingcorresponding edges with respect to the firstnamed edges and extendingtherebetween to form an impingement discharging means between suchcombined edges over the periphery of the rotor whereby a discharge ofsaid matter may be created in a plane transversely to the central axisof the nozzle.

3. In a fog-nozzle, a housing having inlet passages and ha/vingoutlet-passages with paired edges converging towards and being annularlyspaced from one another, rotors provided with turbine-like effectivechannels in the opposite sides with intake-ends disposed to` communicatewith said inlet-passages and with outlet-ends disposed to communicatewith said outlet-passages and including edges extending to the rst-namededges to form an impingement discharging means between such combinededges over the periphery of the rotor whereby a discharge may be createdin a plane transversely to the central axis of the nozzle, the edges ofone rotor and corresponding housing-edges differing from another set ofrotoredges and housing-edges so as to produce a moreforwardly directeddischarge in one set over the other.

4. In a fog-nozzle, a housing having distinct portions of a smallerdiameter and other portions of larger diameter, the portions withsmaller diameter having a central bore and inlet-passages transverselyfrom the bore outwardly, the portions with larger diameterhaving spacededges with faces converging towards one another in paired edges andforming outlet-passages therebetween, 'and a rotor provided withimpelling channels disposed in a plane crosswise to and extendingtangentially about the axis of the housing and about which the rotorturns, the channels forming communicating means between the inletandoutlet-passages of the housing so that the combination of these channelswith the coactively designed housing is :adapted to actuate1 the rotorby anyl medium passing through the passages and to also intensify thevaporizing action upon such medium over the periphery of the rotor whenso actuated.

5. In a fog-nozzle, a housing having distinct portions of a smallerdiameter and other distinct portions of larger diameter, the portionswith smaller diameter having a central bore and inletpassagestransversely from the bore outwardly, the portions with larger diameterhaving paired and spaced edges with faces converging towards one anotherand forming outlet-passages therebetween, and a rotor provided with achanneled impelling portion in opposite sides land extendingtransversely from the smaller to the larger portions of the housing, therotor being also provided with a portion projecting beyond the channeledportion and axially therebetween and extending to points between saidconverging faces in the outer edges of the housing and having facescorresponding therewith so as to keep portions of any medium passingthrough the nozzle separated to opposite sides fof the rotor within thehousing for impingement collision outside of the housing.

6. In la. fog-nozzle, a stationary housing being otherwise closed buthaving distincty portions of smaller diameter and other distinctportions of larger diameter, the portions with smaller diameter having acentral bore and inlet-passages transversely from the bore outwardly,the portions with larger diameter having raised and spaced edges withfaces converging towards one another and forming outlet-passagestherebetween, the housing having roughened portions inside of thehousing near' said. edges, anda rotor provided with a channeledimpelling portion in opposite sides and extending transversely from thesmaller to the roughened portions of the housing, the rotor being alsoprovided with a portion projecting beyond the channeled portion :andaxially therebetween and extending to points between said convergingfaces and being itself provided with faces corresponding with saidfirst-named faces so as to bring any medium passed through the nozzleand around the rotor into impingement over the front of the rotoroutside of the housing.

7. In a fog-nozzle, a housing having a smaller cylindrical portion withtransverse inlet-passages and having a larger cylindrical portion withoutlet-passages formed by paired edges converging towards and beingannularly spaced from one another, and a rotor mounted about saidinlet-passages and provided with impelling-portions` between saidsmaller and larger cylindrical portions of the housing, the rotor havingalso an extensionportion with edges corresponding to and extendinglbetween said first-named edges so as to form an irnpinging means forany matter passed from inlet to outlet passages, the edge-formingportions of the rotor being made of thin material normally seatingclosely on the edges of the housing and adapted to be moved away fromsuch seating position more or les under varying pressures of saidmatter.

8. In a fog-nozzle, a housing having a smaller cylindrical portion withtransverse inlet-passages and having a larger cylindrical portion withoutlet-passages formed by paired edges converging towards and being:annularly spaced from one another, and a rotor mounted about saidinletpassages and provided with an impelling portion between saidsmaller and larger cylindrical portions of the housing, the rotor havingalso an extension-portion, the impelling portion being channeled withturbine-like effect and forming communication between the inlet andoutlet passages to cause a moving of the rotor, the extension-portion ofthe rotor being provided with edges corresponding to and extendingbetween said first-named edges so as to form an impinging means for anymatter passed from inlet to outlet passages, the extension-portion beingmade of thin material normally seating closely upon the edges of thehousing and adapted to be moved away from such seating position more orless under varying pressures of said matter.

THOMAS J. GOTHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 433,639 Arnold Aug. 5, 1890473,759 Klein Apr. 26, 1892 894,059 Rosborough July 21, 1908 930,800Sanger Aug. 10, 1909 1,236,073 Fesler Aug. 7, 1917 1,490,632 Paul, JrApr. 15, 1924 1,760,903 Henkel June 3, 1930 1,968,126 Center July 3l,1934 2,175,310 Pontius, Jr Oct. 10, 1939

